Meaning
to back away, to retreat
- to move backwards away from someone or something
- to back down or retreat from a position or commitment
In a sentence
La folla ha iniziato a indietreggiare lentamente.
The crowd started to back away slowly.
Alla vista del cane feroce, è indietreggiato con cautela.
At the sight of the fierce dog, he stepped back cautiously.
Non indietreggiare: difendi la tua opinione con fermezza.
Don't back down: defend your opinion firmly.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| indietreggiare | infinitive |
| indietreggio | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| indietreggi | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| indietreggia | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| indietreggiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| indietreggiate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| indietreggiano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| indietreggiavo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| indietreggiavi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| indietreggiava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| indietreggiavamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| indietreggiavate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| indietreggiavano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| indietreggiai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| indietreggiasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| indietreggiò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| indietreggiammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| indietreggiaste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| indietreggiarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| indietreggerò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| indietreggerai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| indietreggerà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| indietreggeremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| indietreggerete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| indietreggeranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| indietreggi | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
Usage notes
- Intransitive verb; takes either 'essere' or 'avere' in compound tenses ('è indietreggiato' / 'ha indietreggiato').
- Often followed by 'davanti a' (to back away in the face of).